Media should focus on social issues: NHRC

New Delhi, Oct 19 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman, Justice S Rajendra Babu has advised media to pay more attention on social issues rather than on cases relating to encounters and custodial deaths.

Justice Babu said ensuring protection of rights of economically deprived and underprivileged sections needed a bigger focus than highlighting a few cases of encounters and custodial deaths.

“You give so much importance to encounters and custodial deaths. Please do not give so much importance to these. It is a small percentage so far as the entire country is concerned,” said Justice Babu.

His comments came when asked about the Commission’’s view on a spate of encounters, including the one in south Delhi’’s Jamia Nagar where two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists were killed.

“There are bigger issues. We must protect poor people, the people who are starving. It is these people whose rights have to be protected,” said Justice Babu.

While identifying the issue of malnutrition deaths, Justice Babu said, “Fifty per cent of the people in this country die of malnutrition. Large numbers of children are suffering from malnutrition. This is an important issue. It is a larger issue.”

He also emphasised the need for vigorous effort to protect the poor section of the society, and added, “Who is the person who is in need of protection. That person who comes in contact with bombs, that person who is not socially empowered, economically empowered.”

“It is only these people whose rights have to be protected. Those who are in distress, those who are in difficulties, their rights have to be protected. They come into conflict with the powerful people,” he added. (ANI)